Colin Gorrie
Linguist and author of the Dead Language Society newsletter who specializes in historical English and etymology, explaining odd spellings and word histories for a general audience.
Best podcasts with Colin Gorrie
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Feb 11, 2026 • 1h 3min
The Ridiculously Interesting History of Weird English Words
Colin Gorrie, a linguist and newsletter author who digs into historical English and etymology, unpacks odd spellings and strange word histories. Short segments trace gh to guttural sounds, reveal why yacht and weird look and sound off, and explain flip compounds like pickpocket and turncoat. Fun, nerdy stories show how printing, dialects, law, and literature froze quirky forms into modern English.
